Political ambition sparked the Zambo standoff - priest

"Ang gulo ay dulot ng political ambition not of religion. It’s more of power control. We have a good Muslim-Christian dialogue, we have a good relationship here,"  Archdiocese of Zamboanga administrator Msgr.Chris Manongas told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

 

Manongas also blamed  the national government for the Zamboanga situation when it abandoned the peace talks with the MNLF.

 

He confirmed that hundreds of families have evacuated to the Cathedral Archdiocese of Zamboanga for fear of being caught in the cross fire.

 

Police earlier confirmed that around 200 civilians have been "stranded" in their homes due to the standoff in the five villages in Zamboanga, including Rio Hondo and Sta. Catalina.

 

"The civilians are running away from the place of encounter at  about 8:30 a.m. They all left to look for another place for refuge because there are rumors that may plano na papasukin ang cathedral. Kaya ang mga evacuee are somewhere in Ateneo [and] some are in their relatives a little distance from the cathedral," Manongas added.